The Point: Why Democrats *really* needed that New Mexico special election win

View this email in your browser   June 2, 2021  | by Chris Cillizza and Lauren Dezenski Why Democrats really needed that New Mexico special election win  Unless you're a MAJOR political junkie, you likely missed that there was a special election to fill an open New Mexico congressional seat on Tuesday night.   And because a Democrat -- state Rep. Melanie Stansbury -- won (and won easily) in a strongly Democratic district (Joe Biden carried it by 23 points in 2020), ho hum. Nothing to see here.   But like a duck gliding on top of the water while furiously paddling underneath it, Stansbury's wide win was the result of a major Democratic effort aimed at avoiding even a sniff of competitiveness.   National party luminaries like first lady Jill Biden and second gentleman Doug Emhoff traveled to the district to ensure the Democratic base was energized.   And, as The New York Times' Jonathan Martin wrote:   "House Democrats and their allies in the nation's capital also showered their nominee in New Mexico with an infusion of money in the final weeks of the race."   As of May 12, Stansbury had raised $1.3 million for the race as compared with $395,000 for Republican state Sen. Mark Moores. (Moores loaned himself another $200,000.)   Democrats did all of this because they were (and are) well aware of what a narrow Stansbury win (or even a loss) would have meant for their already difficult prospects of holding on to their narrow House majority come November 2022.   Had Stansbury eked out a win, it would have been the talk of the political world today. Republicans almost won a seat that Biden had carried by 23 points in 2020!  The tide is turning against Democrats! All the dire history of a president's party getting walloped in his first midterm elections is repeating itself!   And to be clear, that still might all happen. Given the narrowness of the Democratic majority and historic trends, Republicans have to be considered the favorites for the majority next year.   But what Democrats avoided on Tuesday night was a full-blown panic among their members and their major donors about what the next 17 months will hold.   A Stansbury loss (or close win) would have likely been the last straw for some Democratic incumbents considering whether they want to go for one more term. Now those incumbents can be reassured by her comfortable win that the winds of change aren't blowing that strongly just yet.   The Point: Winning (and winning big) in special elections matters hugely in a national political climate where everyone is hunting for clues about the next big cataclysm. The Democratic dream of holding the majority after 2022 lives for another day following Stansbury's win.   -- Chris QUOTE OF THE DAY "I would not recommend a Krispy Kreme with a beer." -- White House press secretary Jen Psaki, noting the businesses offering freebies for vaccinated customers, including Krispy Kreme and Anheuser-Busch. WEDNESDAY'S MUST-SEE TWEETS 1. "From the Desk of Donald J. Trump," RIP 2. Loosening mask restrictions ≠ more Covid-19 cases 3. RFK, 1968 4. A good 🧵on the business challenges of returning to work  5. Counting the days... 6. DOOOOOK 7. DOGE CHRIS' GOOD READS Pressure is ramping up on Joe Manchin and the filibuster, says The Washington Post. But let's not forget this WaPo op-ed by Manchin back in April that sounds pretty damn Sherman-esque.   A really intriguing look at Deb Haaland, the first Native American secretary of the interior --courtesy of The New York Times.   And something I didn't know: Politico says Cory Booker is an emerging Senate powerhouse.   Wait, you can get an Xbox for getting a Covid-19 vaccine shot? What a world!   Also, there is a deli with a valuation of $113 million? What a world! MUSICAL INTERLUDE This Paste magazine list of the 30 best albums of 1991 is a good reminder of what an amazing year in music it was. Also, "The Low End Theory" should absolutely be No. 1. ANOTHER ONE Ahead of her first foreign trip as vice president this weekend, Kamala Harris has another assignment: President Joe Biden tapped her to run the lead on voting rights measures.   The new role comes as the Biden administration condemns efforts by Republican-led state legislatures to pass restrictive laws the White House says make it harder for Americans to vote. Calling the state bills an "unprecedented assault on our democracy," Biden noted that he was handing Harris a tough job.   "The work ahead of us is to make voting accessible to all American voters, and to make sure every vote is counted through a free, fair, and transparent process," Harris said in a statement to CNN. "This is the work of democracy."  ONE SHORT-LIVED BLOG 29 days Former President Trump's personal blog, launched less than a month ago and titled "From the Desk of Donald J. Trump," has been shut down. As Chris writes, it lasted almost three Scaramuccis. You are receiving this message because you subscribed to CNN's The Point with Chris Cillizza newsletter. Unsubscribe from this list Check out other CNN Newsletters Create your CNN Account Share the Point Newsletter Was this email forwarded to you? Sign up now to get The Point in your inbox.   Send your tips and thoughts via email to Chris Cillizza and Lauren Dezenski. You can follow Chris and Lauren on Twitter and connect with The Point on: Our mailing address is: One CNN Center Atlanta, GA 30303   Copyright © 2021 Cable News Network, Inc., All rights reserved.

Share This :

Editor